Overview & Reviews

In business for more than 100 years, Audi is an automaker that builds luxury cars and SUVs. The company was started in Germany and has remained Deutschland-based to this day.

"Audi Automobile Works" entered the German car-manufacturing business in 1910 and remained independent until the Great Depression. Because Audi's founder, August Horch, had left a 10-year-old company bearing his own name, he chose a Latin form of his name -- Audi -- for his new company. Audi joined with three other auto manufacturers in 1932 to form Auto Union. Audi, the only surviving nameplate from that union, was purchased by Volkswagen in 1964.

During the 1970s, Audi started to get noticed in the U.S. with its 100LS luxury sedan and compact and sprightly Fox coupe and sedan. By the late '70s the brand had replaced the dated 100LS with its new 5000 luxury sedan.

Every manufacturer has its defining moments. For Audi, one such moment came in March 1980 at the Geneva Motor Show. The automaker unveiled the Audi Quattro, an all-wheel-drive sport coupe that was met with a wildly enthusiastic response on the show floor. The Quattro's all-wheel-drive system went on to help Audi win accolades in motorsports and it was eventually integrated into the entire model range.

That year also saw the Fox replaced by the 4000. Four years later, the range-topping 5000 was redesigned. Audi's sales shot up nearly 50 percent, thanks chiefly to that newly aerodynamic yet handsome flagship that featured what would become an Audi hallmark -- an elegantly stylish, high-quality cabin.

Sadly, Audi's fortunes turned for the worse when the carmaker's 5000 model was accused of unintended acceleration in a 60 Minutes television episode. A subsequent government investigation found Audi innocent of the charge, but the resulting drop in sales nearly put Audi out of business in the U.S.

The late '80s saw Audi redesign the 4000, renaming it the 80 and 90 (with the 90 having more equipment) and also rename the 5000, dubbing it the 100 or 200. The 200 featured a turbocharged five-cylinder with all-wheel drive as opposed to a non-turbo five and front-wheel drive, as on the 100. A Coupe also debuted, as did a new flagship, a V8-powered 200 sedan simply called the "V8".

The following decade saw the A4 and Cabriolet models, as well as the renaming of the 100 to A6. The stunning A8 was introduced as Audi's new flagship, boasting all-aluminum construction and a beefy V8. High-performance versions of the various models bowed, dubbed S4, S6 and S8.

The start of the new millennium brought the TT, Audi's low-slung sport coupe (and later roadster). It also introduced RS versions of the A4 and A6, providing even more performance than "S" variants. In addition to "S" and "RS" versions of the TT, Audi's more recent releases include the A3 hatchback, Q5 crossover SUV, slick A5 coupe, exotic R8 sports car and A7 luxury hatchback sedan.

Today, Audi continues its success in the prestige car marketplace by offering a wide range of vehicles that impressively combine luxury and sport.

User Reviews:

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  Loving my car, but... - 2012 Audi A6
  By mrbtjohns - July 24 - 6:18 am

  WOW!!! That was my 1st impression of this car. The car looks nice on the outside and looks stunning on the inside. After testing driving the 2013 Cadillac XTS, I was real close to buying it but for some reason I kept looking at the 2012 A6 and Im glad that I did. Im coming out of a 2008 Infiniti M35 and driving the new A6 was night and day. The Audi has a great car on their hands. Im loving it so far but the car is lacking some feature that my M35 had. You can not control the a/c by voice, no remote start, no remote power windows up or down option and to get a power steering wheel you have to get the prestige package. Tons of room in this car. Besides those minor things I LOVE THIS CAR.

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  First week with the 2013 audi a7 premium plus - 2013 Audi A7
  By eastender - July 23 - 6:49 pm

  Picked up our new a7 a few days ago. Car has the following options: bench rear seat for 3 passengers (new for 2013), cold weather package, side assist. Our previous car was a 2010 Audi a6 prestige. Basic bottom line - the changes Audi has made since 2010 are huge. car handles better and has improved engine/transmission performance. Inside of cabin is superbly designed . only negatives are: comes with start/stop technology - thank goodness it can be disabled with a dash switch the steering wheel adjustment handle is made of cheap lightweight plastic not suitable for a car of this price the emergency brake is automatically applied and released - what if it fails in the engaged position?

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  Dont buy this car - 2013 Audi A4
  By petrello - July 18 - 3:52 pm

  The 2013 Audi A4 is no longer a good buy. I am on my third and the changes to the steering have made this car a poor buy. The steering has become loose and numb and when driving past 60 you feel has if you have no control of the car. The 2.0 turbo also bangs constantly at low speeds and if your try to accelerate fast all you get is a pedal of air. Driving this car used to be fun but has become typical of an American car with too much over steer and lack of initial power. The mileage is nowhere 25 but rather a 20 overall and the company suggests premium gas. Buy a volkswagen jetta instead .

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  Certainly different from prior A6s - 2012 Audi A6
  By shanenolan2 - July 4 - 5:34 pm

  I have only had this car about a week and its my 3rd A6 with Premium plus package. I replaced an 06 with a 2012 . While this A6 is quite nice, it does lack the luxury feel that accompanied my last 2006 A6 with the same package. Sound proofing seems a little less and the road noise is certainly more noticeable. I had 18" tires on my last A6 and barely heard them. Now its an issue. Things like keyless entry which came with Premium plus editions has new limitations. Its really just key less start as you have to use the fob to unlock and lock the doors. This was not the case in the 2006 version. Its still early in ownership so maybe I will forget how great the other A6s were

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  Q5 Audi review - 2012 Audi Q5
  By claimbo - June 30 - 6:09 pm

  The Audi Q5 is a wonderful addition to the Audi line up. This vehicle is traditional Audi with all the bells and whistles that makes an Audi and Audi. Great pick up and tight steering. It drives just as a German car should drive. The 8 speed automatic transmission is very smooth. The keyless entry and push button actions are what one would expect from a luxury vehicle. It is fun to drive. Mine came with the technology package which is a bit disappointing.

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  WOW!!! - 2012 Audi A6
  By greginnh - June 30 - 12:21 pm

  Having owned an 07, 09 and 11 A6s, I fugured that that couldnt be be much change for 2012. Was I ever wrong! This car blows away any of its competition. I purchased the Prestice with Driver Assist and Cold Weather Package. I did not think the other options were warranted. This car is like a smaller version of the A8. I love the new 2012!

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  My first car - 2006 Audi A4
  By waiting119 - June 25 - 8:52 am

  Steering wheel can be heavier but handling is great in general. The brake is sometimes not responsive enough esp when going downhill, but since the brake pads havent been replaced for quite a while already that is perfectly normal & I could tell the brake will be awesome once i get the pads replaced. Engine is a 1.8T but I consider it more than powerful enough for a new driver driving in a small city like HK. I especially love driving it on highways and it is always ready to offer you a pep whenever you need/want it - so overtaking can be done at ease. It runs stably & noise isolation is great. Awesome interior build quality.

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  Bang for the buck - 2007 Audi S4
  By mikebs4 - June 22 - 11:33 am

  Simply the best car I have owned and here is my list of previous cars: 07 M5, 05 M3, 06 Cayman, 03 M5. Just purchased a 07 S4 convertible with 24k miles. This is an outstanding car for the money. It performs very well, goes where you point it and blazing fast. I smile every time I turn the key in the morning. Gas mileage is what it is and you can average over 20mpg in the city if you baby it. I have a family of 4 and this car is the perfect machine for a daily driver and fun for the dad. And that Audi craftsmanship, you can’t go wrong there either.

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  $700 fuel pump - 2005 Audi A4
  By gretabl - June 14 - 2:17 pm

  Why did the fuel pump go bad after only 120,000 miles? The Acura we drive has 160,000 and the fuel pump is fine. $700 to replace it. $125 tow. I know it could be worse, but I think the reliability could be better. If you are doing all the required maintenance perfectly nothing should break.

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  2010 Audi A4 Burns Oil - 2010 Audi A4
  By richfig23 - June 14 - 9:25 am

  If you think its Ok paying $45K for an A4 with all the bells and whistles, but then need to add a quart of oil to engine every 3 months like you used to have to do with your first car when you were 16 yrs old, then by all means buy an Audi A4. I too am having oil consumption problems of about 1QT of oil every 2,000 miles with my 2010 Audi A4 with 21k Miles. Audi has done an consumption test and they report this is within normal for this engine. Really? I have had this problem from delivery of the vehicle. I am now pursuing a Lemon Law case against Audi and am trying to let everyone know of this problem . Do your research & you will see this is a problem. You have been forewarned.